Tuesday, November 05, 2013

Tax authorities in Munich were searching the home of Cornelius
Gurlitt, a suspected tax cheat. They surely hoped to find something
implicating him in chiseling the tax system. Since Gurlitt is the
reclusive son of a Munich art dealer, perhaps the tax authorities
thought they might find some art in addition to evidence of tax evasion.

However, they surely didn’t expect to stumble across an astounding
1,500 paintings by masters like Matisse, Picasso and Chagall. The
treasure trove of priceless art vanished during the Nazi regime and is
valued at $1 billion.